ARTHRITIS

Many studies have also found that omega 3’s anti-inflammatory action offers great relief to those suffering from arthritis.

Over a dozen studies in the past ten years have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate many of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Pain, number of inflamed joints, fatigue and morning stiffness can all be affected positively by the use of omega-3 in the diet, in some cases enough to eliminate traditional drugs altogether. A noted 1995 study shows that patients who were taking standard anti-inflammatory drugs were given omega-3 supplements. After a few months the drugs were replaced with placebos, with a significant percentage of patients able to stay off the prescription drugs without experiencing any flare-up of the disease. (Kremer et al., 1987, 1990, 1995,).

Other research demonstrated significant improvement in number of tender joints and the average time to onset of fatigue in their patients who were consuming marine oil supplements. (Kremer et al., 1987, 1990). Sperling et al. (1987b), and Maguro et al. (1988) reported alleviation of arthritis related symptoms in patients who were using omega-3 supplements.

In one of the more renowned studies, arthritis patients who consumed omega 3 daily experienced fewer clinical symptoms of their disease after 12 weeks, and results showed a clear difference between the control groups and the groups using omega-3 fatty acids. However, most of the observed improvement did not become evident until after 12 weeks of usage (Kremer et al., as reported in the respected medical journal Lancet, January 26, 1985) and appeared to continue to increase through 18 to 24 weeks, It was further noted that upon cessation of omega-3 supplementation, within weeks after the studies, clinical deterioration was noticeable in the groups of patients, leading researchers to conclude that the omega-3 supplementation did indeed have a positive effect on the symptoms of arthritis.

It appears that omega-3 fatty acids are able to moderate the many effects of arthritis in some patients by influencing prostaglandin metabolism in specialized immune system cells.

Joyce A. Nettleton, in her book Seafood and Health, states "If dietary fatty acids can affect particular cells so that they manufacture the kind of prostaglandins less likely to produce inflammation, we have an excellent way of treating people with arthritis"